You know you need marketing help. But you are unsure if you need to hire a marketing coach or a marketing consultant. This article is a brief description of what marketing coaches and consultants do and how they help their clients. After reading this article you should be able to decide if coaching or consulting is right for you.
What’s the difference between a Marketing Coach and Marketing Consultant?
A marketing coach will work with you to develop your marketing skills and create a marketing plan. The coach will ask you questions to help you develop a plan for your marketing activities.You will be left to handle the actual marketing activities for yourself.
A marketing consultant will help you determine what marketing activities are best suited for your type of business. They will help you develop and implement a marketing plan. The consultant will handle all or some of your marketing activities for you.
How do coaches and consultants go about helping their clients?
Coaches will hold sessions with you where you will determine the skills that you currently have or need to develop to execute a successful marketing campaign. The coach will work with you almost like a therapist to help you dig deep to determine what your business is all about. They will help you focus core business values and market. Many will help you to create a marketing plan.
Coaches are great at helping to develop a marketing plan you can implement on your own. You can continue to work with a coach to help you meet your goals and get back on track when you fall off.
Consultants will meet with you to discuss your business and marketing needs. They will help you determine the best marketing activities for you and your business and the best ways to implement the activities. Consultants can also implement the plan that you have created and allow you to spend time focusing on your new and current customers. You can hire a consultant who will create a plan for you, implement the plan and anywhere in-between.
Consultants will also help you to develop a marketing budget. Find ways to penetrate new markets and help you create marketing materials. A consultant can keep track of your activities and determine what is working and what is not. They can also help to redirect your campaign if things are not working as expected.
How do you know if you need a coach or a consultant?
There are some basic questions that you can ask yourself to help determine if you need a coach or consultant.
1. Do you need help creating a marketing plan that you can implement yourself? If yes, then consider hiring a coach.
2. Do you want someone to help you create a marketing plan and then implement the activities for you? If yes, then consider hiring a consultant.
3. Would you like someone who will help you develop a marketing plan and them implement the areas you do not feel comfortable with handling? If yes, then consider hiring a consultant.
4. Do you want someone who will monitor your activities and consult with you when you are off track and need encouragement? If yes, then consider hiring a coach.
Once you have determined whether you want to hire a marketing coach or marketing consultant. Create a list of potential coaches or consultants and give them a call. Ask them how they work, how they will help you and what you should be able to expect.
Happy marketing.
Jennifer Woodard is a freelance Marketing and Sales Copywriter/Marketing Communications Consultant. If you would like more information, she can be reached at msjenniferwoodard@yahoo.com You can also join her monthly marketing newsletter group at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/JustWriteMarketingNewsletter